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African People's Education
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Giving Tuesday
The 2024 Giving Tuesday Reparations Telethon is an exciting opportunity to take a positive stand in support of the anti-colonial struggle of African people and all oppressed peoples of the world! In the face of the U.S. government-orchestrated attacks on the African freedom struggle, your support of the Black Power Blueprint is a concrete way to join the fight-back in defense of the right of African people to free speech and political expression and the right to build the independent power to feed, clothe and house ourselves.
The Black Power Blueprint is going beyond protest, towards the capture of political and economic power for African people. It is actively negating colonialism by uplifting and empowering the African working class.
Register and attend this year’s Giving Tuesday 6th Annual USM 24-Hour Reparations Telethon:
Donations can also be made electronically, or by check to “APEDF” and mailed to Uhuru House, 4101 W Florissant Ave, St. Louis MO 63115. For ACH or wire instructions, please call APEDF accounting office at 727-914-3609.
Schedule a meeting or tour with our development team to discuss gifts of securities, properties or planned giving. Call 314-380-8016 or email donate@apedf.org.
The African People's Education and Defense Fund (APEDF) is a non-profit,
tax-deductible (IRS 501c3)
organization ID #59-3252727
APEDF is a registered charitable organization:
Missouri # CO-348-17
Pennsylvania #29512
California #CT 133056
Florida # CH 11780
A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the FL Division of Consumer Services by calling 1-800-HELP-FLA, or at www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by the state.
An open letter from Ona Zené Yeshitela
President, African People’s Education & Defense Fund
Dear Community,
The African People’s Education & Defense Fund (APEDF) urges you to join us in a campaign to raise $2 million dollarsthat will directly support the residents of North St. Louis in the aftermath of the devastating tornado that tore through our 98% Black community on May 16 and left unimaginable destruction in its wake.
As President of APEDF, I live in and serve the community of North St. Louis. I, too, experienced damage to my own home. I have witnessed firsthand the lack of response by the city and the federal government. The little support being provided by the government will displace people rather than rebuild their homes. Your support of APEDF’s Northside Black Power Fund will counteract displacement and contribute to revitalizing and rebuilding the Northside, bringing prosperity and a positive future for the Black community once again.
Our immediate goal is to contribute to fixing 50 to 100 roofs in North St. Louis, to get gift cards into the hands of at least 1,000 people, and to help the community navigate other available resources.
Be part of our people’s response to repair and rebuild our own community
The tornado tore roofs from our homes. Massive trees fell onto cars. Live power lines fell into streets, leaving thousands without power, or displaced. 70% of residents do not have home insurance. Many people were injured and seven people died: Rena Scott-Lyles, Deloris Holmes, Patricia Penelton, Juan Baltazar, Larry Patrick, Jerome Robinson and Catherine Brown. They were loved mothers, fathers, husbands, neighbors, business owners and members of the community.
In the face of this, my Black community mobilized with astounding speed, enthusiasm and pride. Neighbors came together within minutes of the storm’s passing. APEDF joined and amplified people-led efforts – walking door to door, assessing damage, checking on elders and delivering food and water. We established a free community charging station and distributed essential supplies including hot meals prepared by our partner Uhuru Foods. We continue to mobilize scores of volunteers for community cleanup workdays. These collective acts underscore the power and dignity of an organized community taking care of its own — in sharp contrast with the confusion and chaos demonstrated by the government.
APEDF was rebuilding North St. Louis before the tornado
The tornado revealed what APEDF has always been a bulwark against: a system that invests in police containment and control, rather than economic development, empowerment and community. APEDF is a small, grassroots non-profit that has a long history of stepping up for our community even without receiving the millions of dollars that have gone to many large non-profits. Donors tell us that they can “see where every dollar has been spent.”
In the days following the storm, it was revealed that city officials failed to activate emergency sirens, a negligence that vindicates the distrust this community has toward a government that has consistently failed to meet their needs. Within days of the tornado, code enforcement agents slapped more than 3,000 “unfit for occupancy” red stickers on homes, giving families ten days to vacate and disconnecting their power.
What is happening in North St. Louis is not just a natural disaster alone; it is a consequence of the political and economic system that has written off Black neighborhoods as disposable.
It has been made clear in public meetings with representatives from government agencies that the small amount of money allotted for rebuilding will involve gatekeeping and multiple barriers to access those funds, with only a small percentage of the allocated resources actually getting to homeowners and tenants who need to fix their homes NOW! It will take years for families to rebuild, if they can rebuild at all.
The people have spoken with one voice – “We will not be displaced!”
Support self-determination and donate to APEDF’s Northside Black Power Fund. https://blackpowerblueprint.org/northsideblackpowerfund